Triangulation of Multifactorial Assessment: Bringing Objectivity to Objective Structured Clinical Examination Evaluation

Background The objective structured clinical examination is a critical simulation tool used as the gold standard for assessing graduate health students' ability to perform clinically. Often these simulations use assessment/evaluation methods that can be subjective. Methods To minimize subjectivity, one graduate nursing program is triangulating student performance assessment by using case-specific quizzes, standardized patient feedback, and structured observation rubrics. Results Initial evidence finds this composite evaluation provides equitable feedback across cohorts, identifies students struggling didactically and adds precision to remediation. Conclusions Initial findings are suggesting that this approach offers an all-encompassing reflection of clinical and academic performance.